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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> ER & Hospital Visits
        
(Message started by: Jake on Jan 18^th, 2005, 12:51am)

Title: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by Jake on Jan 18^th, 2005, 12:51am

I've just got home from 4 days in the hospital. I went to the ER on Friday night as the hreadache which had started on thursday night as 11:30pm had not abated. Aftre 10mg of morphine my headache exploded and the ER doc panicked. He did a spinal tap to to make sure I wasn't having a brain bleed or suffering from my some sort of infection. I have a vague recollection of the procedure and remember the nurse holding me and try to sooth me. They gave me more morphine and versed. The spinal tap was unremarkable and they decided to admit me cos they couldn't figure out what was was wrong. I spet the next day and a half in a dilaudid haze and I've decided that while it's a wonderful painkiller I never want to go near the bloody stuff again. I've been seen by a mixture of doctors (neuro, internal med, infectious disease, ENT, etc). Based on a CT scan they thought a sinus infection had triggered the cluster and consequently started me on IV antibiotics. Today I saw an ENT specialist who said that there was no way a sinus infection could be serious enough to trigger a cluster and I wasn't a candidate for sinus surgery. The neuro I saw said to stop using verapamil and start using something called indochine. I might not have the spelling right but I got the impression that it's a one hit kind of deal. I am very very glad to be home. I'm very very glad not to be in horrific pain. I'm very very frightened that I'm not through with this round of clusters. I was really hoping that when they said it was sinus triggered that I would have an answer for all this chaos. The good things is that I seem to have found a new neuro who seems to be human and understands clusters. The other good thing is that it has confirmed that I don't want to be a junkie.

Stay well,

Jake

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by nani on Jan 18^th, 2005, 1:00am

A sinus infection can trigger CH. It is not the cause of CH, but a trigger. Happened to me in Oct. Even though I'm chronic, I can have severe episodes. It would only take antibiotics to clear the infection, not surgery. And even then, no guarantee that the episode will end. Indocin is used to rule out CPH (chronic paroxysmal hemicrania or icepick headaches). It's nearly 100% effective for it, but not for CH. My guess is that he may want to rule it out. I'm not sure I would want to stop the verapamil until I wwas sure the episode was long gone. Just MHO.

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by Beastfodder on Jan 18^th, 2005, 6:52am

That's a horrific story - hope the cycle's getting under control.

For me sinus problems are a major trigger for episodes and very much occur in Autumn. Had the operation about five years back when I was first really hit by CH (but not diagnosed), and it definitely is no cure-all. It's also a hard infection to fight and you need a good antibiotic (ENT specialist I used recommended Tavinac tho' GP's may be reluctant to prescribe it because it's not as cheap as alternatives).

I don't know if you're recently diagnosed with CH, but that's half the battle. The rest is getting both the meds and therapies right to break cycles and stop headaches. You'll find all the help you need here and the right answers.

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by Rock_Lobster on Jan 18^th, 2005, 7:34am

Agreed with Nani & Beast. Sinus infections are my episode's muse.

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by unsolved1 on Jan 18^th, 2005, 8:32am

I can't see a headache starting at 11:30 pm on THursday night and continuing until Friday night being a cluster headache.

Either way, sorry you're in pain and hope you find some relief.

Unsolved

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by Jake on Jan 18^th, 2005, 1:55pm

I know - that's what scared the hell out of me. All the symptoms were the same as my cluster. Burning pulsing pain behind my left eye ball. Pain levels falling and rising. The thing is it just didn't go away and the intensity level didn't let up. Currently, I've got an appt with the neuro for tomorrow. I feel like I've been run over and I am going to take it very easy for the rest of the week.

Aslo, I was diagnosed with clusters about 8 or 9 years ago.

Jake

Title: Re: ER & Hospital Visits
Post by jillybean on Jan 18^th, 2005, 11:04pm

Sorry to hear about your ordeal. We had a similar week recently so I can empathize.

Best of luck with relief.

Joll